Wow! I stumbled across this while researching filtration systems for my African Cichlid tank... and I just happen to work for Oil-Dri. A little info in the differences in Oil-Dri clays and getting the correct clay for for the Anoxic filter. First, Special Kitty is a product that uses attapulgite clay that is mined in south GA, the color is light tan/gray. To keep it simple for this post, all the clay processed there is baked to a certain degree to drive the moisture out. For coarse cat litter such as Special Kitty, the clay does not need to be baked long enough to drive "all" of the moisture out. This is why it will break down and get muddy when soaked in water. However, Oil-Dri Premium Absorbent is a product that is baked longer and dried out to less than 1% moisture. This changes the structure of the clay to where it will not break down and get muddy. This is the product that will be best used for Anoxic filter as described in this video. This brings up the second point... Oil-Dri Premium Absorbent is also processed in California and Mississippi facilities. In MS, the mineral is montmorillinite and is a harder granule that is darker in color (reddish/brown). Based on the video, it sounds like it could also work for this filter. However, Oil-Dri premium from CA may not work, as it will break down and not stay a hard granule. So if you live out west, you may not get the desired results. Hope this helps!
One of the best comments I've read, hands down. Thanks for the input. I have questions: oil-dri vs saftsorb. Different clays, same process? Also, do you know if the products sold are sold by region. Like if I buy oil-dri on the Gulf coast, do you think it's the MS clay, or who knows? I wouldn't imagine they'd ship cross country unless they had to but...
I'm glad you like the canister filter BCB method I posted a couple years ago and how it can apply to other canister filters. Putting a solid plastic bottom on the basket should also take the initial "force" of the water and help even more of the basket become anoxic. Keep up the good videos! - Luke
Thank you Luke for the tip. My Anoxic canister filter is working great, better than I thought it would. Now if only more hobbiest would realize the benefits that I'm seeing with my Anoxic canister filter, they would never turn back to the old ways of doing things. Just think, you are the one that got the ball rolling.
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums Thanks Kevin! Very nice of you to say but you're the mastermind! So glad we found a way to apply the technology in a way anyone can use it without the need for a sump. Everyone's fish will be thankful! :)
Hi Luke - Hoping you can answer a question and give thoughts- saw your comments in Dr Novak's videos and checked out your channel to watch your eheim canister set up video from 1/18 - is yours still up and running in 2021 as initially designed and have you had to do any maintenance to the BCB inside? Honestly kind of scared to cut up my old Eheim Pro 2028 but would love to try the BCB for removal of nitrates and phosphates on my 75g rock and no plants monster tank! Thinking I might leave the lower basket whole and use course sponge to filter (large happy messy fish) debris , then cut out center of other 2 baskets and put one bcb through the 2 baskets, and top with filter floss that I can change out easily. Would appreciate your comments.
@@vikkirountoit497 Hello, If I made another one, I would probably make a DIY 5 gallon bucket canister filter. There are a few good videos on how to do it and they're cheap. Even if you change it back, you'll only need to buy a few extra baskets for your Eheim filter. No maintenance on the BCB inside required as long as you have a good pre-filter on it. I added another canister filter in line before it to filter the water even more before it went into the BCB "chamber". Have fun!
Hi Dr Novak. Just to bring you up to date on my 22ltr stainless steel cylinder filter using 6 X BCBs.fitted to my 500ltr with 22 x 3" to 4" Cichlids. I cleaned the filter as I noticed that the outlet flow was not as strong as it had been. It had been operating for 6 weeks. The sponges and polyfil were very dirty.. However the BCBs were very clean with no sign of any blacking etc. Also the phosphate pad indicated that the water flow was going around the bags. One thing I did not do again was put clay media balls in the bottom of the filter. All that happened was that with the flow of the incoming water these balls just slowly disintegrated and caused more "dirt". I am thinking of fitting an external filter cylinder to the filter which should increase the filter cleaning cycle. This 22ltr cylinder is heavy and not easy to remove and clean.
Hello Kevin. Wow another fascinating video . I can't wait to see each of your videos . Its like shaking up the whole fish tank filtering market ! I have my small tank on my windowsill still cycling and in another month should hopefully see results . Can't wait to see if it works . Will let you know my results . Best wishes . John .
What size tank will this filter work on? Buy the way I have used your idea on Koi ponds since 2004/5 you accually were sending cds with info. The best system.. Thanks Dr.
Thanks.... great information. I have sewn long skinny tube like baskets with monofilament... I have also sewn with plastic coated bead wire like for making jewelry. For me the beading wire is stiffer and I skip every other hole. I’m not as good at sewing, your work looks really neat and precise. I put them behind my matten filters and it’s been really effective in keeping my tanks healthy, thank you for this idea.
So would the air dry pottery clay be an acceptable substitute for the flourish? I've seen you mention pottery clay before, but what I can find is the no bake/self hardening, you didn't mention this. Supposed to not ever get water proof. I just don't know if there are added polymers that are bad for fish. Any thoughts? This says amaco terra cotta(possibly just color?) Air dry clay.
Hi Dr Novak, thank you very much for this informative video. I’m confused about the dosage of the iron. Because in the video about the bcb bags you were preparing for your other canister filter, you said we should use 2 ounces of the flourish iron for ponds, and they were very small bags compared to this basket? Did I catch it wrong in that video? Could u kindly write the dosage for that big of a basket? I’m going to use it inside my mini Sun-sun canister filter. Or is the dosage irrelevant? Thank you
Microorganisms consume significant amounts of Zn, Co, Mg... besides Fe. A rich micronutrient fertilizer for the kernel might work better than an only iron one? Thank you
Dr. Novak, i hav read dat u sugested zeolite cat litter as it was used in other areas, but as i search here in my country, zeolite charcoal cat liter is d only availble i can find, wud dis be enough n right?
Thanks Dr. Novak. I've been looking for a nitrate solution like this for a few years. Kept chasing anaerobic filtration with no success. I'm going to start switching my canisters over with your method and see how my nitrates compare.
Can we use very fine stone chips ( like used for making roads) It would be hard,not disintegrate, and the porosity will be same as this ..so water won't go through it? And also another substrate..like bricks broken into very small pieces..they are also baked clay basically..and they dont disintegrate..and have the porosity in the small pieces i guess to create the anoxic conditons.. Can crushed pottery made of baked clay work? I do not have access to kitty litter per se..so i was just thinking of alternatives available here..you are so kind as to think about working around a problem.. Could you shine some light on these ideas? Thank you..
Many hobbyists say that: “It is impossible to have oxygen in the baskets because the substrate will compact, and therefore will inhibit any biological process to take place.” However, they forget about the substrate permeability1 qualities, and the large part it plays in the microbial and chemical processes. The permeability of Kitty litter and Laterite allow oxygenated Aquarium/pond water with inorganic compounds to pass through the substrate on a current-carrying magnetic field, which then allows the substrate to stay more aerobic. Such substrate has two characteristics that enable fluids to move through it: (1) porosity and (2) permeability. Porosity is the presence of small openings, or pores. Permeability means that some of the pores are connected by spaces through which fluids can move. Nonetheless, actual tests of the baskets have confirmed the existence of oxygen at low levels for bacterium to exists and exists it does. Yet, in all honesty, how it gets there is still somewhat of an unknown to scientist. Yet, I will try to explain the best I can for the hobbyist. Oxygen penetration is less and less with depth. It decreases for two reasons: microbial metabolism and subsequent biogeochemical processes. Diffusion is a very effective process over short distances; however, it has its limitations. Yet, the presence of oxygen in the biocenosis clarification baskets suggests that oxygen does diffuse as far as the center of each basket. Concomitantly, biogeochemical processes may produce or retain some oxygen. Differential pressure existing across gradients. Ion displacement (differential pressure) exists when there is a relationship with carbon dioxide removal. If there is a substrate producing some carbon dioxide, it then becomes a factor in creating anoxic condition. The addition of anion producer such as microbial or aggregate or both needs to produce enough oxygen to engage or attract the carbon dioxide and that will then move the cations, releasing the oxygen and consequently going more aerobic. The point being made here is that it is that oxygen is present in the substrate of each basket and it is clearly not there only because of diffusion alone. What I have just stated here is the kind of substrate or medium use will make a big difference in how the Anoxic Filter works. It's a lot more complicated than what most hobbiest think. A lot of science goes into an Anoxic Filtration System. You can try other mediums but your outcome may not be so good. Sorry if this is bad news.
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums of course it a big big achievement to find a substrate in the first place which can cause this in a scale to be applicable in smaller aquariums..to make it possible...now whats left is finding many such substrates... which i am sure exists..based on similar porosity, permeability..physicochemical and electrochemical properties that is.. If that is matched..the rest of the biological interaction will follow.. And since the method of application is already well established, be it sump or cannister .. finding more similar substrates will surely help.... already more work is being done by hobbyists regarding this..regarding forms of application, like miniaturization, in tank itself, in HOBs..with initial favourable results.. hopefully they prove to be repeatable and scalable.. I just hope, some other materials become recommended in the first place..so that research using those materials can be started in the right direction.. I myself, will probably test brick powder to begin with.. its also used as a absorbent, is permeable, has low, but relatively matching CEC which probably will create similar magnetic properties, and also inherently rich in iron.. I will also use other iron salts as supplements.. It may fail..but worth trying.. On that note.. you mentioned vermiculite will cause algal bloom..have you tried it yourself? One of the main diff is much higher CEC of that, compared to attapulgite/palygorskite..which might kind of 'spit out' the nitrates(anions) rather than keep it in the center.. But then again, there are actual research articles, regarding use of vermiculite, pumice for anoxic filtration of waste water..( although anoxic levels were created a bit differently, and also used a deep substrate) And vermiculite and laterite has been recommended as bottom layer substrate for planted applications since quite long.. Anyway..its definitely a very exciting avenue for research.. But yes, the anoxic method has been around for decades..but has not become popular due to the physical constraints, lack of proper understanding, and non scalability for small aquariums..when that hurdle is solved.. a LOT is going to change.. Natural ecosystems, healthier, long living fish, no external co2, ferts, water changes.. It will be beautiful and stop wastage of lot of money and resources.. Looking forward to that..
i have a question here, in UK I can not find clay non clumping, the only non clumping litter is made out of limestone and quartz, is that ok to use or not for the filter
I have a few queries, hope you can answer them.. 1) i have found some brands of non clumping natural clay kitty litter..but it says bentonite.. Will it work? You once said bentonite doesnt work, as its clumping.. but if its non clumping and hopefully baked..will it then work, or does it have to be attapulgite? 2) for plenum purpose, will any substrate of our choice ( eg fine gravel or coarse sand) ( height 2-3 inches with particle size 1-3mm with a 1 inch plenum with a short lift tube)work with iron or does it have to be baked clay with laterite.. 3) will any bricks made from baked clay work even if its not attapulgite clay? 4) lastly, you made a video about substitutes for the laterite or iron rich substrate..you have probably not yet made a video about substitutes for baked clay... From what i have gathered, you said the following would/should work Zeolite, leca balls..if they are properly sized, like 2-4mm in diameter..are there any other? Thanks in advance
I am wondering if the fluval canister filters could be adapted for this as the filter is basically divided in half with the water entering from the top on oneside and going through your sponges and floss to the bottom of the canister and then rising back up through the media baskets to be sucked out by the pump back to the tank if you replcethe media baskets with a bcb you should be able to make an anoxic canister filter this way as well
It really is judged by the amount of pollution your aquariums is making. If you have a 550 gallon aquarium and only one fish in it then one basket would be more than enough.
Dr Novak, what is the minimum diameter for a canister BCB like this? I'm using a pair of Nu-Clear/Red Sea-style canisters with the pleated filter cartridges and the center "donut hole" of the cartridges is only about 4" diameter x 9" tall, so once I account for flow space I'm looking at a maximum BCB size of 3" x 8". Is such a narrow column enough to create a meaningful anoxic zone? Thanks!
Also, you said you have personally not had much success with substrates or medium that are supposed to remove nitrates.. so does only deep substrate method if placed directly on the bottom..will the bottom most layer create anoxic conditions? Will placing a porous material like pumice or vermiculite at the bottom most layer of such a deep substrate create a slow moving anoxic filtration layer?
You see plants will draw water through the substrate through conventional means but the plants will be very slow in doing this and are subject to CO2 fertilization. Depending on plants alone to draw water through the substrate is a path to failure without the help like heating cables like is suggested by the experts. But even heating cables under the substrate becomes useless in the summer months when the ambient air temperature of the room equals that of the tank or the tank is getting enough heat from the aquarium lights. Then the heating cables never turn on to heat the substrate and then everything starts going anaerobic in the media and starts turning black. Glass bottom aquariums will show this best and you can then see the blackening of the substrate very easy by looking at the bottom of the tank. Once the heating cables resume the work of heating the tank once again and your tank will turn sweet once again, then slowly the substrate will turn aerobic and you will have more aerobe organisms or facultative anaerobes than anaerobic organisms. The applied physics are the same no matter if it is an aquarium or pond. Plants alone will not draw enough water through a substrate to keep it from going anaerobic without a little help from the hobbyist. The substrate in a planted aquarium needs to be at least 3” deep and a plenum needs to be added under the substrate of ½ to 1” depth. By doing this, heating cables are not needed and biological and chemical pathways remain open to chemical mediators. Now your substrate will draw water by convention, diffusion and peculation. However, this will once again be subject to the size of the media you choose to use to anchor your plants in. If the medium is too small or too large then you’re sacrificing permeability and porewater capability of that substrate and it will clog. Unlike the Biocenosis Clarification Baskets (BCB’s) that make up the Anoxic filter in a pond, aquariums can’t have a bunch of BCB’s sitting inside of them because of cosmetic reasons. That’s why when you buy plants you will see them in individual small plant pots that act like a BCB’s does but on a smaller scale. They are grown this way in greenhouses with space in-between them just like an AFS has space between its BCB’s. I have also seen hobbyist use cat litter and Laterite for their substrate in aquariums that houses plants too. But once again you must elevate the medium above the bottom glass surface like I explained above. Now, you will have an Anoxic Filter without all the BCB’s but will have one big BCB the size of your aquarium bottom instead. Using a black craft canvas on top of a platform will hold the cat litter and Laterite above the glass and because of its size it will not clog. NOTE: You must only use cat litter, Oil Dri or Safe t Sorb that has been baked. Some cat litters are not baked and then they will not work for a Plenum situation. A BCB yes, but not a Plenum. How to make a BCB the size of an Aquarium is easy. You can use PVC or anything that can make a raised bed above the aquarium floor. Then in one corner or in an inconspicuous place in the aquarium place a 1” plastic tube with small holes drilled at the bottom ½” of the tube. The tube is inserted in the raised bed and will sit on the bottom glass (The tube can also be capped off at the bottom.) with an air stone at the bottom of the tube and the tube will then look like and under gravel airlift tube. Using the smallest air pump you can buy, pump air into the tube via air stone. This will move water from under your plenum extremely slow. It will not act like an under gravel filter because water movement will be too slow for that to happen. The slower the water movement the better it works. Just the opposite of what an under gravel filter was meant for. If the tube only exchanges one gallon of water a day that’s good enough and fast enough too. Just make certain that none of the cat litter can fall in-between the tube and the black craft canvas screen. The tube is added; because the substrate is tight against the aquarium glass at its sides. This will impede the chemical and biological pathways some. The very slow water movement underneath the plenum will allow for proper ion exchange and will mimic a conventional movement of the water through the substrate releasing any gases. Yes the substrate will produce N2 and it must find a way out via the tube you just added.
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums excellent explanation..i was wondering though..in actual ecosystems and ponds in nature..how does anoxic filtration happen ? There is only 'substrate' ..how does water movement happen there?
I always find your videos so interesting and tempted to try. 🐟🌿👍😊
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Hello Dr. Novac, could you clarify if what you use as Kitty Litter in the U.S., is basically composed of diatomite. I'm from Argentina and I want to make sure I get it right.
The iron plays two parts in the BCB. part one ) iron helps too accelerate bacteria growth. Bacteria use the iron for their growth in the very beginning and once they are all established then the iron isn’t quite as important. Two) the laterite has the same crystalline structure as kitty litter or oil dri or any one of those products and therefore it will attract the ions out of the aquarium water the same as the kitty litter. Even in a normal Aquarium iron is still very important for the building of cells inside your aquarium our filter to establish bacteria.
Dr. Novak would you mind doing a follow up video in 60 days to let us know if it did work as expected. I’m curious how water would leave the bottom and go out the sides if there’s holes in the bottom. It’s uneducated but it would still seem to me because the tube isn’t very thick that it would be very hard for it to get anoxic even if most water is flowing around it there will still be some going through it to stay aerobic. What other brands of canister filters would this work on? Fluval?
In the ADA canister the water is not being pulled through the medium but is forced around the BCB. Water always take the path of least resistance and the BCB has too much resistance for the water to go through it. Diffusion is what will bring the water into the BCB along with ions. One ion is being taken in as another ion is being released back in solution.
Many hobbyists say that: “It is impossible to have oxygen in the baskets because the substrate will compact, and therefore will inhibit any biological process to take place.” However, they forget about the substrate permeability1 qualities, and the large part it plays in the microbial and chemical processes. The permeability of Kitty litter and Laterite allow oxygenated aquarium water with inorganic compounds to pass through the substrate on a current-carrying magnetic field, which then allows the substrate to stay more aerobic. Such substrate has two characteristics that enable fluids to move through it: (1) porosity and (2) permeability. Porosity is the presence of small openings, or pores. Permeability means that some of the pores are connected by spaces through which fluids can move. Nonetheless, actual tests of the baskets have confirmed the existence of oxygen at low levels for bacterium to exists and exists it does. Yet, in all honesty, how it gets there is still somewhat of an unknown to scientist. Yet, I will try to explain the best I can for the hobbyist. Oxygen penetration is less and less with depth. It decreases for two reasons: microbial metabolism and subsequent biogeochemical processes. Diffusion is a very effective process over short distances; however, it has its limitations. Yet, the presence of oxygen in the biocenosis clarification baskets suggests that oxygen does diffuse as far as the center of each basket. Concomitantly, biogeochemical processes may produce or retain some oxygen. Differential pressure existing across gradients. Ion displacement (differential pressure) exists when there is a relationship with carbon dioxide removal. If there is a substrate producing some carbon dioxide, it then becomes a factor in creating anoxic condition. The addition of anion producer such as microbial or aggregate or both needs to produce enough oxygen to engage or attract the carbon dioxide and that will then move the cations, releasing the oxygen and consequently going more aerobic. The point being made here is that it is that oxygen is present in the substrate of each basket and it is clearly not there only because of diffusion alone.
Dr Novak, This may be a silly question but having looked at anoxic filters for a couple of weeks I am unable to find how I can add the bacteria to my filter. I am looking at a water treatment tank, so there is no fish in it, purely a high level of nitrate within the water. is it even possible to kick of the filter in a plain tank/ or can it even be used. Also, yeast is a heterotrophic bacteria, could this be added to the tank to start the colony? TIA
See the Chubby Guppy's question above about the Saf T Sorb product. I have two tanks now about 2 -1/2 years old with about a 3" bed of Saf T Sorb and am very happy with my choice. It took me a bit to get plants to take, but once I started fertilizing (Aquarium Co-op Easy Green and Seachem Flourish a couple times a week) things really took off. Can't say it's eliminated nitrates as mine tend to run around 40ish, but I think the nitrate craze is a bit overly blown.
Hi Dr Novac. Can i do this with a hang on back filter please? I have been binging on your videos in the last couple of days...i am planning on setting up a couple of tanks in my house...and i am planning on doing it your way
Thanks for the videos, Dr Novak. I'd really like to try this for a 30 gallon tank. What are the minimum dimensions necessary for a successful BCB in a canister filter?
The size is going to be dictated by the size of your canister filter and the medium that you’re going to use along with it. Such as sponges, filter medium and carbon, etc., etc. actually, the best thing to do is get the biggest filter you can afford for your size tank.
Three weeks ago I installed a 60 liter aquarium with a slow moving plenum with a Eheim 2211 cannisterfilter like Dr Novak showed in his TH-cam canal about 2 years ago. For substrate I used just poolfilter sand 1-2mm nothing else. Seeing this video I am also going to make a BCB in the Eheim 2211. If everything went well after 6 months with aquarium with fish I am going to make a BCB for my other aquarium. This is a 100 liter Juwel Rio 125. In jan 2020 I set it up with also a slow moving plenum with a JBL Greenline E-902 cannister filter. Substrate with pool sand and Seachem flourite red as describe in Dr Novaks youtubefilms 2 years ago. If all goes well with the Eheim 2211 BCB I am planning to make a BCB for the JBL E-902 cannister just like Luke had done. The JBL e-series are perfect for that because how the water flows through the cannister. As prefilter I will use a Sunsun HW-603 (model without motor).
Hi! Dr. Novak. Does carbon dosing alter the bacteria type and/or performance in the Anoxic filter? Say I wanted to get rid of PO4 while the 6 week colonization period is done. Thank you and thank you for giving us this open source information to help us keep better water parameters and happier fish.
Fascinating. Question. I use to play with clay in the ditches. There was a smell on the deep clay. Is that the anoxic bacteria you are talking about. And are you basically trying to produce that environment?
Finally tonight (29/12/20), around two years after seeing your first videos on Anoxic filtration and wishing I had a sump... I've converted my "Aquis Aqua One 1250" Canister Filter that was full of "Biohome" into an Anoxic filter after (largely) following your method in this video. My tank is a 450 Litre Juwel Vision which still has the internal filter which I use for mechanical and biological filtration with sponges more biohome and other sintered glass stuff. Ammonia and Nitrite have always been 0 but I've always had Nitrates at around 50 to 80 ppm while doing 20 to 40% water changes every week or two weeks, with 6KG's of Biohome (Sintered glass) media in my various filters. So, hopefully in 45 days or so I am hoping to see a reduction in Nitrate? I will continue to perform water changes as I would normally and test using my "Salifert" Nitrate test kit that I use for my reef tank which I find to be more accurate than the freshwater API one. I'll update you in 45 days... Cheers Kev Ph.D. ;O)
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums It's been a long wait, apologies for that. Regarding my thoughts and results of what I've seen and experienced with my tank over the last (nearly) two years using the Anoxic filter I set up, as above, along with the keeping the existing internal Juwel filter containing sponges and sintered glass media. In short, In my experience Anoxic filtration works to reduce nitrates. Over the past two years Nitrate levels have been relatively consistent between 35 and under 50 ppm and that is also in conjunction with reducing the water changes I do to every couple of months in the last year. My fish stock levels have fluctuated on a couple of occasions because I have (or rather, had) an overstocked tank due to Diamond Tetras that won't stop breeding in my tank. So, periodically I sell them to my local Aquarium store. The amount of fish I pull out to sell varies between 60 and 100ish fish. I also have an old Angel and a large Black ghost knife fish that I've had for 7 years amongst many others. I would say that if I reduced my fish stock even further and/or added another anoxic filter, this may reduce nitrates further but I'm ok with how it works for now. I will still continue with changing water because if you don't, after a while carbonate hardness drops and the waters buffering ability becomes unstable and pH drops. (and it's just nice to freshen things up for the fish). Anyway, those are my thoughts. Hope it's helpful.
Hi DR. Novak First I like to say thank for showing your work on this great filter media. My question is can I modify your design to fit in a HOB filter ? I all ready order the clay kitty litter, and the plastic canvas to make the basket, the only problem I had was the iron , so I bought a 6oz of red powder clay it's use for a face mask. By adding water to it women smear it over the face and it is to draw out imperatives. Seeing that it's safe to apply to one face, I am sure it's safe to use it in my freshwater aquarium. So I plan on making small Square BCB basket, in the same style you have made with a smaller gap on the bottom, with a 1/4 " filter foam wrap around the Bottom to catch debris. And a gap on the top , to put filter floss on top. This BCB basket would be small enough so water would enter from bottom and all four side. When I finished making the basket could I send you a photo of the BCB BASKET. For your opinion . And would the red clay powder I purchased work. Thank you #FALLRIVERFISHGUY MASSACHUSETTS
A HOB filter would work but I think it will need some innovated modifications to it or the BCB basket. I just looked on Amazon and put in "Laterite" an it popped up. Laterite Powder Florin Base by: Brightwell Aquatics. It comes in 160-g,325-g,600-g and 1000-g. It cost $12.47 for 325-g.
Do Not Slow Down your 2213. You can turn it into an Anoxic filter at that speed. New video coming out with a canister filter that puts out 500-gpr and the big BCB in it will handed 9-lbs of fish.
Hey Dr. Novak,saw the picture of Ironite on you blog page.Is that possible to use that instead of the laterite cause its hard to find nowadays.I can get the Ironite easily from homedepot in my town if it can be used as a replacement of laterite.Please let me know.Thanks...
This is soo cool! Can not wait to try this. I am thinking a heavy pound fishing line or firewire could work as a good alternative to the filament. Can you explain what the iron does please? You deserve video of the year for the aquarium hobby category! Hope this video blows up
Hi Doctor Novak PhD, I have been watching your progressive, highly informative, uploads regarding, first the slow moving anaerobic plenum and latterly the fast flowing Biocentesis Filtration system, I do not know, having lived in England all of my life if you remember the aquarists attempts, back in the 1980's, although I admit that memory fails me here, but, attempts were made to emulate a anaerobic filter by 'dripping' tank water at a pre determined rate through a, normally transparent circular column filled with, I believed to be pool filtration sand. The down side with this system, which, when I was re-bitten by the bug, I believe I can no longer find modern reference to this experiment, was the critical accuracy with which the speed of water introduced to this filter led, either to a natural aerobic failure or, more seriously if too slow then the dreaded 'rotten egg smell' (Hydrogen Sulphide) resulting in the 'usual' action, depending on the length of time that this 'bad' water had been feeding back into the, sometimes very costly display tank, to save fish and plants, although, the system's other failing was the actual, in most cases the 'pitifully small' amount of water returned to the tank when compared to your slow moving plenum system. The big problem I encountered, no doubt, along with a significant number of fellow Aquarists, discovered, as you predicted, impossible to locate. That is why I welcomed your 'upload' regarding alternatives to Laterite, which FINALY brings me to the assistance, if you are able, by query that I desperately need; 1. Will any "natural" 'Red baked clay product' of sufficient granular size be a suitable alternative to your suggested alternatives ?. 2. Can 'Zeolite', being of suitable size, act as a replacement to the 'kitty litter that you use ?. I include the relative web address for the only kitty/cat litter I can find. www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/pets-at-home-non-clumping-clay-cat-litter-20l?cm_mmc=Google-_-CPC-_-%20google_shopping-_-google_shopping&ita=1976&ito=google_shopping&istCompanyId=7255ccad-a1fc-4729-af31-478f79e5071c&istFeedId=385e6b9a-8b03-4076-a8bb-e4737df8549c&istItemId=itxmxqqwa&istBid=tzwt&gclid=Cj0KCQiAqo3-BRDoARIsAE5vnaIYc1aymkKqwGVrJ0ndRZeCs9v8rKnLT9Z-e3PvkU0lZu8omQQvgGMaAjlHEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds# I would be most grateful for your response
Hi (all the way from Australia) Dr Novak. I am an avid viewer of your videos and have (hopefully) learned a few things from your very informative material. Thank you. I have a question with this form of BCB for the canister. Does the flow of water through the canister need to be at a certain minimum flow rate, or is the rate irrelevant?
Hi Dr. Novak, thanks for this helpful video. I am planning to create a BCB basket to be place into a similar canister filter like yours (mine is a Chihiros though). Just wanted to check with you, because I can't find the exact cat litter and oil dri in my country (Indonesia), would you be able to advise whether I can use a 100% zeolite stones in the basket? Would it worked the way it supposed to then? Thanks again!
As I have discussed in other videos, if you’re making a Plenum, you do not necessarily have to even use kitty litter. You can use alternatives such as oil dry, or Safetsorb.
do you have a video on how much media you need per gallon? And can I make a basket for a hang on back or is the flow too high? I have aqua clears, which I could also retro fit with an air lift system for a trickle filter.
Do you recommend the use of zeolite as a filter media? (Some types of zeolite are known as carcinogens). I would like to know your thougts on Zeolite use. Thank you
Zeolite has been used in Thailand for quite a many of years with success. Their access to kitty litter like we have in United States is not very plentiful. The only kind they have over there is a kind it basically clumps and turns into mush.
Hi Dr. Novak, from what I understand you are installing this filter on the same antique aquarium that you did the slow moving plenum on. Does the slow moving plenum not already work as an anoxic filter? How much anoxic filtration is needed? I am removing all the substrate from a 40 breeder to add a set of filter plates and 1”-2” layer of kitty litter. Will that be enough anoxic filtration for a typical community aquarium? Or will I need some external anoxic filtration as well?
The plenum does work to keep ,your tank from "crashing" . I have used a slow moving plenum in tanks that did not need a teardown for over 10-years. Placing the substrate directly on the bottom, I was lucky to go a year before a teardown or starting all over again. Be very careful of the Kitty Litter you use . As I said in my video not all Kitty Litter is the same coming out of Walmart. That is why I chose to make a canister BCB, then the cat litter can very somewhat. Maybe only 1/4" of cat litter in-between your substrate would-be the safer bet.
Hi. Set this up on a 350l litre tank using a eheim classic 600 alone side eheim pro4 600. Nitrates went from 40+ to 5ppm in 3 days. Just carrird out test. However could the cat littre affect the ph ? My tap ph is 7.4 and tank is 8.4. Any feedback would be helpful.
Some say the BCB lowers their Ph and other say it rases their Ph. In my aquarium my Ph is 7.5 using a BCB, the same as my tap water. It could be that your water does not have enough buffers in it. Either try a resin like I show in my last video or a Ph down from your local fish store.
I skipped this video because I don't have a canister. Now I wish I watched it because I'm having this crumbling issue. I'm on my second attempt with a plenum but didn't bother changing out the clay (safe t sorb). However I put a fine mesh fabric above the UGF plate. That's been keeping the mush from coming through.
Dr. Kevin, Thanks for the informative videos. Do you have any idea if filling a denitrification reactor with kitty litter material with a slow rate flow gets the same result?
Hello doctor novak. I am from the philippines and i have been trying to make your BCB or at least pattern one from your design but we dont have the kind of kitty litter that you use. All we have here are the clumping bentonite kitty litter and if lucky, non clumping scented bentonite (which is really rare as well). Is there any other substitute doctor? Can i use crushed red clay pots as an alternative "macro"substrate? Also, is it possible to use the injectable iron dextran used in piglets as the iron source inoculant of your BCB and as replacement for the laterite core (or can the broken red clay pot be considered as laterite already)? And finally, can wood charcoal be used for the BCB or as a substrate substitute (and carbon source)? I really hope you could help me with these questions doctor. I value your input highly and with much respect. Thank you very much.
Bentonite: Do not use • Clumping cat litters are made of Bentonite clay, which sticks together when wet. The bentoniteis usually mixed with quartz and diatomaceous earth, which are absorbent. Other Clays: • Various types of clays are used for non-clumping cat litters. Zeolite, diatomaceous earth and sepiolite are common. • (Only use clay -Attapulgite-that has been mined from the earth, clean, baked, and pulverized such as Kitty litter.)
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums Dear Doctor, I am from Singapore, and i guess by know you realise how hard is it to get this sort of kitty litter elsewhere outside USA. I was wondering if you can quicky see if this can work www.amazon.sg/Premium-Litter-Natural-Performance-Maximum/dp/B01M8LRNHG/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=diatomaceous+kitty+litter&qid=1612108190&sr=8-1
Bentonite: Do not use • Clumping cat litters are made of Bentonite clay, which sticks together when wet. The bentoniteis usually mixed with quartz and diatomaceous earth, which are absorbent. Other Clays: • Various types of clays are used for non-clumping cat litters. Zeolite, diatomaceous earth and sepiolite are common. • (Only use clay -Attapulgite-that has been mined from the earth, clean, baked, and pulverized such as Kitty litter.)
Fantastic ...Dr Novak ...if I use laterite soil and bake it... would it have the same effect as the kitty litter? ...if use kitty litter that is not clay...does it need to inject the iron ions?
No it will not work the same. The kitty litter or oil dry has a crystalline structure to it that attracts the ions out of the aquarium water unlike normal gravel or lava rock. Sorry...
I made my Anoxic basket bottom flat because the Eheim 2215 has a raise plastic platform in the bottom of canister already. Also I will only use filter pad on top of basket for easier maintenance and not having to remove the Anoxic basket from the canister.
Hi Dr Novak, I was introduced to your Anoxic filtration method through a youtuber @ guppies stories. For my stream tank (you can check out my channel too), I am using 2 fluval fx6 canister filter and 2 big size pre-filter canister filter. In my pre-filter, i have loaded them with tons of pumice actually without the basket tho. I got few questions to ask and hope you could address it. 1. Would this work if I'm using small size pumice instead of kitty liter? 2. Is it compulsary to inject the iron liquid? 2. Is it okay for the water output from the anoxic filter flow into the normal convention canister filter or it has to be a separate flow all together? 3. Can both conventional filter and anoxic filter co-exist together? 4. Could I just convert all my entire conventional filter into an anoxic filter for my 10 footer stream tank that houses almost 100 small sized fishes.
Hi, greetings from Mexico, thank you for your videos and for sharing your knowledge, i have a 115 gallons tank of goldfish, i would like to try anoxic filtration, and i have some questions if you dont mind. 1. Whats best in your opinion, flourite red or zeolite? the flourite red its clay with iron rigth? 2. If i install the BCB's baskets in a sump i don't need matrix anymore?
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums sorry to bother you again, can i try with the brand "Skoon" its a Diatomaceous earth, non-clumping and it works with ion exchange, it also says that is very porous and works with ions exchange. what do you think? www.amazon.com/Skoon-All-Natural-Litter-Pooper-Skooper/dp/B07Y426QS4
It's so hard to get baked clay kitty litter in Singapore. Hopefully there's a substitute to it. For iron there's a Nilocg which contains ferrous gluconate ,dtpa and edta iron in liquid form.
I have two filters on a 5ft aquarium an fx6 and a eheim classic. Could I turn the eheim into an anoxic filter keeping the fx6 as it is or would this not work.
Yes you can , Eheim classics will work perfectly the same way as the ADA filter does. Just make it the same way I show it and you should have no problems and you’ll be seeing some fantastic results in just a few days.
So how long will the flourish iron last, would you redose the flourish iron when servicing the filter pads? I was expecting a core of laterite or the Seachem Flourite Red as you had used in your previous baskets.
Basically it’s there just to start up the filter because the bacteria need the iron. Once the bacteria is establish it really doesn’t have to be re-inoculate except once every maybe 5 to 10 years.
Hi Dr Novak. Do you ever need to replenish the iron source added to the clay or is it just introduced initially to 'jump start' the bacteria reproduction?
The plastic mesh you are using is called " Plastic Needlepoint Canvas ". I have an Eheim ECCO pro 300 which will be surplus sometime next year . Do you think that it would be worthwhile converting it into an Anoxic Filter by lining the provided baskets with mesh and filling with kitty litter ? I would be using it on a tank of either 100 or 170 Litres . I have some Laterite although I am not sure that I can get old style Kitty Litter here (Ireland) anymore .
Thanks, I just thought it was for some craft use I didn’t know the name of it. The only thing about the ecco filters is the water Has to go through the medium baskets because of the way the water enters and exits the filter. That’s why I chose to Eheim classics are the ADA filter they’re made the old fashion way. Water comes in from the bottom and goes out the top..
theboesmani This is a link to youtube canal from Luke who convert an Eheim professional 3 filter to a anoxic BCB filter: th-cam.com/video/4uefD7acEiI/w-d-xo.html I live in the Netherlands in in Europe we have a german aquarium products company JBL who have cannister filters who also can be converted the Lukeway to a BCB filter. I have one and I am thinking to convert him next year.
hmmm i just got my first cannister filter , would converting a tier of the media basket into a mini version of this be worth it ?? ive never heard anything abut anoxic filter, until i watched this SO PLEASE excuse my ignorance
Excellent .Congratulations. Very explanatory video. One point I would like to ask: is the addition of iron solution necessary? Isn't there a possiblity of overdosing the iron? Isn't it harmfulfor the fish? Thank you.
If you’re already adding iron to your aquarium because of plants then the iron is not absolutely necessary. It will migrate inside the BCB on its own. Or lets say you have iron in your tap water already then there’s no reason to add more to the BCB. Small amounts of iron or not harmful to your fish but it could cause problems with your plants. This is done by overdosing.
Thanks for the response Dr. Novak. I'm planning to use hydroton which is similar to the kitty litter in your area. I can't find the same kitty litter here in the Philippines, mostly it is made of bentonite.
I've been wondering if you would make more videos. For zeolite I find horticultural zeolite works great without breaking down the way the special kitty does.
I know Harvy is in Thailand use Zell light which almost looks like kitty litter more so than what we use here in United States is kitty litter and also adding iron. I have it on my blog and it does work.
Yes, it as good as Kitty Litter, i’ve repeatedly told people they can also use oil-Dry which is exactly like what you’re talking about. Thanks for the good info I hope others read this comment.
Dr Novak would Seachem Flourish Iron or Flourite RED be a suitable substitute for what you used? Thank you for your videos. I'm trying to replicate your experiment using an Eheim classic canister using Oil-Dry. The Walmart kitty litter in Canada had very small (sand like) consistency and wouldn't work for me. Hopefully this works. Thanks again.
@@vikkirountoit497 I’ve had my canister set up fr about 2 months now. I have Norma seen a reduction in nitrates yet. I’m experimenting with three tanks using different water conditioners (my city uses chloramine so most conditioners Glauber added binding agents for ammonia that has an effect on anoxic bacteria). Waiting to see if this works.
@@chriscaragiannis6783 Interesting - I use Seachem Prime to prep my aquarium water. I am hoping that I can continue to use it and that it will not cause a problem for the anoxic aspect of the plenum I'm setting up for 10g or for the BCB I plant to set up for the 75g. Thanks for your update!
Sorry for so many questions, but i am just raring to try these methods with what i have available with me.. I have a cannister with compartment trays in it. Can i use a mesh bag with appropiately dense media ( keeping a gap of half an inch from the sides) in each of those compartments..will that work too? ( Of course, keeping a fine sponge above and below all these for the mechanical filtration part)
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums i was doing some online reading up.. from what i understand as of now, any material which is porous, permeable, clay derivative and doesnt disintegrate should work.. i got the idea that they should have a good CEC..that will draw the ammonia in.. so keeping all those in view, can vermiculite be an alternative choice? Also, iron, can it be supplied as ferrous sulphate instead of laterite?
@@Kingshukpalchoudhury do not use vermiculite your tank will become a mess of cyanobacteria. Stick only to what I have tested or your outcome may not be favorable. This is how people fail by using the Anoxic system by trying to change it and then it fails on them.
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums thanks.. could you be so kind as to tell the reason/principle due to which vermiculite will fail? Since you suggested zeolite works.. Are there any other material you know of that works? Thanks again for the quick responses..
Is this what you're speaking of? Looks interesting as it is made of clay AND has a high iron content. What are your thoughts Dr. Novak, can we kill 2 birds with one stone?e-lss.jp/seachem/flourite-black.php
Thank you very much for sharing this Dr. Novak. How much laterite would you place in the filter? I recently found some on eBay if you're looking for a supply.
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums I just checked the eBay seller I bought it from and its out of stock. I did find this place that have stock. aquascaping.in/index.php/api-first-layer-pure-laterite-567-gm.html Not sure if they ship internationally though.
I can get Duplarit which is Duplas brand of laterite from my local aquarium store if you want some i can ship i to you? It's powdered form though. The lot i bought recently was much more granular chunks. Sourced from One Research & Development. I am in Australia where it comes from apparently.
@@TubingTommy Thanks for the info. Found by Petsplace catty litter Happy Home Budget made of Atapulgite. Buy one and try it. So we can compare our findings.
Three weeks ago I installed a 60 liter aquarium with a slow moving plenum with a Eheim 2211 cannisterfilter like Dr Novak showed in his TH-cam canal about 2 years ago. For substrate I used just poolfilter sand 1-2mm nothing else. Seeing this video I am also going to make a BCB in the Eheim 2211. If everything went well after 6 months with aquarium with fish I am going to make a BCB for my other aquarium. This is a 100 liter Juwel Rio 125. In jan 2020 I set it up with also a slow moving plenum with a JBL Greenline E-902 cannister filter. Substrate with pool sand and Seachem flourite red as describe in Dr Novaks youtubefilms 2 years ago. If all goes well with the Eheim 2211 BCB I am planning to make a BCB for the JBL E-902 cannister just like Luke had done. The JBL e-series are perfect for that because how the water flows through the cannister. As prefilter I will use a Sunsun HW-603 (model without motor).
@@TubingTommy Bought yesterday that Petsplace litter and tried it this morning but it is not good. It seems worse than that of Linda. Small pieces and a lot of dust. When wet it became like pasta used for filling holes in walls. Now looking for oil dry used in garages and Zeolite.
@@TubingTommy Dr. Novak today I made a similar BCB like you for my cannister filter Eheim 2211. The BCB diam is 7 cm and height 10,5 cm. I filled it with this Hobby 20055 zeoliet, 1000 g, 5-8 mm: Amazon.nl and a 1 cm “tube” in the center with Seachem flourite red just like Luke did. The cannister filter has a diam of 9 cm. I am using it for my 50 liter planted aquarium I just set up with a slow moving plenum attached to the cannister like you have shown. If all goes well I will make an BCB for my JBL e902 cannister filter for my one year old 125 liter show aquarium who has already a slow moving plenum. I will use this zeolith ZeoPond: zeoliet voor vijver en aquarium - Zeolite Products (zeolite-products.com) because I couldn’t find good catlitter or oil-dry.
hello dr novak im planning to make a anoxic filter but I'm unable to find non clumping kitty litter in my area and walmart also does not deliver it here . so can you suggest any other media for example pumice , lava rock , chips,or something else which is easily available and hence I will be able to make the filter for me
The kitty litter I use is non-baked kitty litter from Walmart. Someone has suggested that if you put it in the oven for three hours at a 400 to 500° oven it will harden the kitty litter and bake it.
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums thanks Dr Novak for the reply I will try this and tell you soon about the conclusion This method will work for me as I am getting clumpable kitty litter so I hope that it works Thank you for your time and effort you have really given a lit to fish keeping hobby
No you don't have to have an aerobic filter. The Anoxic filter will take care of everything biologically for you. Just have a goof prefilter and that is it. This will be great for bare bottom tanks too.
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums Thats awesome.Now I gonna turn all of my diy box filters into anoxic filters.It will be a lot of work since I have lots of tanks but it will be worth it.Thank you so much Dr. Novak!
Once again Doctor, great video. You have me convinced to give this a try. I mentioned in another post that I am using Fluval canisters. You think this could be used in one of them like a Fluval 307 or 406? I'm guessing I'd just have to leave out all the baskets and sponge racks and make that media basket you described. I currently run a FX4 and the 307. My plan would be to run the FX4 unchanged and put the kitty litter in the 307. In other words run both the standard canister along side one that the anoxic bacteria. Love to hear your thoughts
It sounds good but I'm not that up to date on just how the new Fluval's get the intake and exit output of water into the canister. The water has to circulate around the BCB in order for it to work. That is why I personally chose the Eheim classic or ADA canister filters because water must come in from the bottom then go up to the outlet at the top.
Wow! I stumbled across this while researching filtration systems for my African Cichlid tank... and I just happen to work for Oil-Dri. A little info in the differences in Oil-Dri clays and getting the correct clay for for the Anoxic filter. First, Special Kitty is a product that uses attapulgite clay that is mined in south GA, the color is light tan/gray. To keep it simple for this post, all the clay processed there is baked to a certain degree to drive the moisture out. For coarse cat litter such as Special Kitty, the clay does not need to be baked long enough to drive "all" of the moisture out. This is why it will break down and get muddy when soaked in water. However, Oil-Dri Premium Absorbent is a product that is baked longer and dried out to less than 1% moisture. This changes the structure of the clay to where it will not break down and get muddy. This is the product that will be best used for Anoxic filter as described in this video. This brings up the second point... Oil-Dri Premium Absorbent is also processed in California and Mississippi facilities. In MS, the mineral is montmorillinite and is a harder granule that is darker in color (reddish/brown). Based on the video, it sounds like it could also work for this filter. However, Oil-Dri premium from CA may not work, as it will break down and not stay a hard granule. So if you live out west, you may not get the desired results. Hope this helps!
One of the best comments I've read, hands down. Thanks for the input.
I have questions: oil-dri vs saftsorb. Different clays, same process?
Also, do you know if the products sold are sold by region. Like if I buy oil-dri on the Gulf coast, do you think it's the MS clay, or who knows? I wouldn't imagine they'd ship cross country unless they had to but...
Can I use zeolites instead of the kitty litter please as I don't think I am able to get this kind of kitty litter in my place
Dr. Novak don't you ever stop making this brilliant videos. My filtration system is patterned after your designs. Such a blessing.
Thanks, so happy to hear that.
just a quick tip on the build: use MINI ZIP TIES instead of monofilament line to build basket. faster, easier and less frustrating
That's what I used...worked perfectly.
I just sewed mine, omg it was tedious. I will zip tie the next one...
I would suggest getting a curved needle to do this. It’ll save some frustration.
Zip toes for quick work, or sew it - for the esteem of the craft.
I'm glad you like the canister filter BCB method I posted a couple years ago and how it can apply to other canister filters. Putting a solid plastic bottom on the basket should also take the initial "force" of the water and help even more of the basket become anoxic. Keep up the good videos! - Luke
Thank you Luke for the tip. My Anoxic canister filter is working great, better than I thought it would. Now if only more hobbiest would realize the benefits that I'm seeing with my Anoxic canister filter, they would never turn back to the old ways of doing things. Just think, you are the one that got the ball rolling.
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums Thanks Kevin! Very nice of you to say but you're the mastermind! So glad we found a way to apply the technology in a way anyone can use it without the need for a sump. Everyone's fish will be thankful! :)
Hi Luke - Hoping you can answer a question and give thoughts- saw your comments in Dr Novak's videos and checked out your channel to watch your eheim canister set up video from 1/18 - is yours still up and running in 2021 as initially designed and have you had to do any maintenance to the BCB inside? Honestly kind of scared to cut up my old Eheim Pro 2028 but would love to try the BCB for removal of nitrates and phosphates on my 75g rock and no plants monster tank! Thinking I might leave the lower basket whole and use course sponge to filter (large happy messy fish) debris , then cut out center of other 2 baskets and put one bcb through the 2 baskets, and top with filter floss that I can change out easily. Would appreciate your comments.
@@vikkirountoit497 Hello, If I made another one, I would probably make a DIY 5 gallon bucket canister filter. There are a few good videos on how to do it and they're cheap. Even if you change it back, you'll only need to buy a few extra baskets for your Eheim filter. No maintenance on the BCB inside required as long as you have a good pre-filter on it. I added another canister filter in line before it to filter the water even more before it went into the BCB "chamber". Have fun!
This info is mind-blowing! I feel lucky to get into this hobby with all this golden knowledge.
Glad you enjoy it!
Hi Dr Novak. Just to bring you up to date on my 22ltr stainless steel cylinder filter using 6 X BCBs.fitted to my 500ltr with 22 x 3" to 4" Cichlids. I cleaned the filter as I noticed that the outlet flow was not as strong as it had been. It had been operating for 6 weeks. The sponges and polyfil were very dirty.. However the BCBs were very clean with no sign of any blacking etc. Also the phosphate pad indicated that the water flow was going around the bags. One thing I did not do again was put clay media balls in the bottom of the filter. All that happened was that with the flow of the incoming water these balls just slowly disintegrated and caused more "dirt". I am thinking of fitting an external filter cylinder to the filter which should increase the filter cleaning cycle. This 22ltr cylinder is heavy and not easy to remove and clean.
sounds great
I drilled holes in a cylindircal pitcher that I got from wallmart, works great.
Hello Kevin.
Wow another fascinating video .
I can't wait to see each of your videos .
Its like shaking up the whole fish tank filtering market !
I have my small tank on my windowsill still cycling and in another month should hopefully see results .
Can't wait to see if it works .
Will let you know my results .
Best wishes .
John .
What size tank will this filter work on? Buy the way I have used your idea on Koi ponds since 2004/5 you accually were sending cds with info. The best system.. Thanks Dr.
Thanks.... great information. I have sewn long skinny tube like baskets with monofilament... I have also sewn with plastic coated bead wire like for making jewelry. For me the beading wire is stiffer and I skip every other hole. I’m not as good at sewing, your work looks really neat and precise. I put them behind my matten filters and it’s been really effective in keeping my tanks healthy, thank you for this idea.
Those are all surgical stitches I just used to doing it that way.
Great video, Dr. Novak! Very good information.
So would the air dry pottery clay be an acceptable substitute for the flourish?
I've seen you mention pottery clay before, but what I can find is the no bake/self hardening, you didn't mention this. Supposed to not ever get water proof. I just don't know if there are added polymers that are bad for fish. Any thoughts?
This says amaco terra cotta(possibly just color?) Air dry clay.
Hi Dr Novak, thank you very much for this informative video.
I’m confused about the dosage of the iron. Because in the video about the bcb bags you were preparing for your other canister filter, you said we should use 2 ounces of the flourish iron for ponds, and they were very small bags compared to this basket? Did I catch it wrong in that video? Could u kindly write the dosage for that big of a basket? I’m going to use it inside my mini Sun-sun canister filter. Or is the dosage irrelevant? Thank you
1 mL of iron to 8 gallons of aquarium water.
is natural clay is similar to bentonite ?
kitty litter with natural clay like that is impossible to get in my country
Really appreciate all your hard work!!!! Thanks for sharing!!!!
Microorganisms consume significant amounts of Zn, Co, Mg... besides Fe. A rich micronutrient fertilizer for the kernel might work better than an only iron one? Thank you
Hi Dr is using OCEAN FREE 3DM Bacto-Sand as deep substrate good? 4inches thick
Dr. Novak, i hav read dat u sugested zeolite cat litter as it was used in other areas, but as i search here in my country, zeolite charcoal cat liter is d only availble i can find, wud dis be enough n right?
Can you use akadama instead of kitty litter? Thank you
Thanks Dr. Novak. I've been looking for a nitrate solution like this for a few years. Kept chasing anaerobic filtration with no success. I'm going to start switching my canisters over with your method and see how my nitrates compare.
I have really had no success with substrates or medium that are supposed to eliminateNitrates myself.
Can we use very fine stone chips ( like used for making roads)
It would be hard,not disintegrate, and the porosity will be same as this ..so water won't go through it?
And also another substrate..like bricks broken into very small pieces..they are also baked clay basically..and they dont disintegrate..and have the porosity in the small pieces i guess to create the anoxic conditons..
Can crushed pottery made of baked clay work?
I do not have access to kitty litter per se..so i was just thinking of alternatives available here..you are so kind as to think about working around a problem..
Could you shine some light on these ideas?
Thank you..
Many hobbyists say that: “It is impossible to have oxygen in the baskets because the substrate will compact, and therefore will inhibit any biological process to take place.” However, they forget about the substrate permeability1 qualities, and the large part it plays in the microbial and chemical processes. The permeability of Kitty litter and Laterite allow oxygenated Aquarium/pond water with inorganic compounds to pass through the substrate on a current-carrying magnetic field, which then allows the substrate to stay more aerobic. Such substrate has two characteristics that enable fluids to move through it: (1) porosity and (2) permeability. Porosity is the presence of small openings, or pores. Permeability means that some of the pores are connected by spaces through which fluids can move. Nonetheless, actual tests of the baskets have confirmed the existence of oxygen at low levels for bacterium to exists and exists it does. Yet, in all honesty, how it gets there is still somewhat of an unknown to scientist. Yet, I will try to explain the best I can for the hobbyist.
Oxygen penetration is less and less with depth. It decreases for two reasons: microbial metabolism and subsequent biogeochemical processes. Diffusion is a very effective process over short distances; however, it has its limitations.
Yet, the presence of oxygen in the biocenosis clarification baskets suggests that oxygen does diffuse as far as the center of each basket. Concomitantly, biogeochemical processes may produce or retain some oxygen.
Differential pressure existing across gradients. Ion displacement (differential pressure) exists when there is a relationship with carbon dioxide removal. If there is a substrate producing some carbon dioxide, it then becomes a factor in creating anoxic condition. The addition of anion producer such as microbial or aggregate or both needs to produce enough oxygen to engage or attract the carbon dioxide and that will then move the cations, releasing the oxygen and consequently going more aerobic. The point being made here is that it is that oxygen is present in the substrate of each basket and it is clearly not there only because of diffusion alone.
What I have just stated here is the kind of substrate or medium use will make a big difference in how the Anoxic Filter works. It's a lot more complicated than what most hobbiest think. A lot of science goes into an Anoxic Filtration System. You can try other mediums but your outcome may not be so good. Sorry if this is bad news.
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums of course it a big big achievement to find a substrate in the first place which can cause this in a scale to be applicable in smaller aquariums..to make it possible...now whats left is finding many such substrates... which i am sure exists..based on similar porosity, permeability..physicochemical and electrochemical properties that is..
If that is matched..the rest of the biological interaction will follow..
And since the method of application is already well established, be it sump or cannister .. finding more similar substrates will surely help.... already more work is being done by hobbyists regarding this..regarding forms of application, like miniaturization, in tank itself, in HOBs..with initial favourable results.. hopefully they prove to be repeatable and scalable..
I just hope, some other materials become recommended in the first place..so that research using those materials can be started in the right direction..
I myself, will probably test brick powder to begin with.. its also used as a absorbent, is permeable, has low, but relatively matching CEC which probably will create similar magnetic properties, and also inherently rich in iron..
I will also use other iron salts as supplements..
It may fail..but worth trying..
On that note.. you mentioned vermiculite will cause algal bloom..have you tried it yourself?
One of the main diff is much higher CEC of that, compared to attapulgite/palygorskite..which might kind of 'spit out' the nitrates(anions) rather than keep it in the center..
But then again, there are actual research articles, regarding use of vermiculite, pumice for anoxic filtration of waste water..( although anoxic levels were created a bit differently, and also used a deep substrate)
And vermiculite and laterite has been recommended as bottom layer substrate for planted applications since quite long..
Anyway..its definitely a very exciting avenue for research..
But yes, the anoxic method has been around for decades..but has not become popular due to the physical constraints, lack of proper understanding, and non scalability for small aquariums..when that hurdle is solved.. a LOT is going to change..
Natural ecosystems, healthier, long living fish, no external co2, ferts, water changes..
It will be beautiful and stop wastage of lot of money and resources..
Looking forward to that..
i have a question here, in UK I can not find clay non clumping, the only non clumping litter is made out of limestone and quartz, is that ok to use or not for the filter
I have a few queries, hope you can answer them..
1) i have found some brands of non clumping natural clay kitty litter..but it says bentonite..
Will it work?
You once said bentonite doesnt work, as its clumping.. but if its non clumping and hopefully baked..will it then work, or does it have to be attapulgite?
2) for plenum purpose, will any substrate of our choice ( eg fine gravel or coarse sand) ( height 2-3 inches with particle size 1-3mm with a 1 inch plenum with a short lift tube)work with iron or does it have to be baked clay with laterite..
3) will any bricks made from baked clay work even if its not attapulgite clay?
4) lastly, you made a video about substitutes for the laterite or iron rich substrate..you have probably not yet made a video about substitutes for baked clay...
From what i have gathered, you said the following would/should work
Zeolite, leca balls..if they are properly sized, like 2-4mm in diameter..are there any other?
Thanks in advance
I love anoxic filter too :) Merci for your good informative videos.
I've been taking close notes because i want to do a video in Spanish talking about anoxic filtration.
What are the implications of the iron and if I don't include it ?
I am wondering if the fluval canister filters could be adapted for this as the filter is basically divided in half with the water entering from the top on oneside and going through your sponges and floss to the bottom of the canister and then rising back up through the media baskets to be sucked out by the pump back to the tank if you replcethe media baskets with a bcb you should be able to make an anoxic canister filter this way as well
Don’t really know but it’s worth a try.
Hi and thanks for a great video.
How big or many baskets for a 550 gallon or 2100 liters tank? Do you have a way to calculate this?
It really is judged by the amount of pollution your aquariums is making. If you have a 550 gallon aquarium and only one fish in it then one basket would be more than enough.
Will an Anoxic filter remove nitrates effectively if it is used with a second standard set up canister filter? Both running independently.
Dr Novak, what is the minimum diameter for a canister BCB like this? I'm using a pair of Nu-Clear/Red Sea-style canisters with the pleated filter cartridges and the center "donut hole" of the cartridges is only about 4" diameter x 9" tall, so once I account for flow space I'm looking at a maximum BCB size of 3" x 8". Is such a narrow column enough to create a meaningful anoxic zone? Thanks!
Also, you said you have personally not had much success with substrates or medium that are supposed to remove nitrates.. so does only deep substrate method if placed directly on the bottom..will the bottom most layer create anoxic conditions?
Will placing a porous material like pumice or vermiculite at the bottom most layer of such a deep substrate create a slow moving anoxic filtration layer?
You see plants will draw water through the substrate through conventional means but the plants will be very slow in doing this and are subject to CO2 fertilization. Depending on plants alone to draw water through the substrate is a path to failure without the help like heating cables like is suggested by the experts. But even heating cables under the substrate becomes useless in the summer months when the ambient air temperature of the room equals that of the tank or the tank is getting enough heat from the aquarium lights. Then the heating cables never turn on to heat the substrate and then everything starts going anaerobic in the media and starts turning black.
Glass bottom aquariums will show this best and you can then see the blackening of the substrate very easy by looking at the bottom of the tank. Once the heating cables resume the work of heating the tank once again and your tank will turn sweet once again, then slowly the substrate will turn aerobic and you will have more aerobe organisms or facultative anaerobes than anaerobic organisms.
The applied physics are the same no matter if it is an aquarium or pond. Plants alone will not draw enough water through a substrate to keep it from going anaerobic without a little help from the hobbyist. The substrate in a planted aquarium needs to be at least 3” deep and a plenum needs to be added under the substrate of ½ to 1” depth. By doing this, heating cables are not needed and biological and chemical pathways remain open to chemical mediators. Now your substrate will draw water by convention, diffusion and peculation.
However, this will once again be subject to the size of the media you choose to use to anchor your plants in. If the medium is too small or too large then you’re sacrificing permeability and porewater capability of that substrate and it will clog. Unlike the Biocenosis Clarification Baskets (BCB’s) that make up the Anoxic filter in a pond, aquariums can’t have a bunch of BCB’s sitting inside of them because of cosmetic reasons. That’s why when you buy plants you will see them in individual small plant pots that act like a BCB’s does but on a smaller scale. They are grown this way in greenhouses with space in-between them just like an AFS has space between its BCB’s.
I have also seen hobbyist use cat litter and Laterite for their substrate in aquariums that houses plants too. But once again you must elevate the medium above the bottom glass surface like I explained above. Now, you will have an Anoxic Filter without all the BCB’s but will have one big BCB the size of your aquarium bottom instead. Using a black craft canvas on top of a platform will hold the cat litter and Laterite above the glass and because of its size it will not clog. NOTE: You must only use cat litter, Oil Dri or Safe t Sorb that has been baked. Some cat litters are not baked and then they will not work for a Plenum situation. A BCB yes, but not a Plenum.
How to make a BCB the size of an Aquarium is easy. You can use PVC or anything that can make a raised bed above the aquarium floor. Then in one corner or in an inconspicuous place in the aquarium place a 1” plastic tube with small holes drilled at the bottom ½” of the tube. The tube is inserted in the raised bed and will sit on the bottom glass (The tube can also be capped off at the bottom.) with an air stone at the bottom of the tube and the tube will then look like and under gravel airlift tube. Using the smallest air pump you can buy, pump air into the tube via air stone. This will move water from under your plenum extremely slow. It will not act like an under gravel filter because water movement will be too slow for that to happen. The slower the water movement the better it works. Just the opposite of what an under gravel filter was meant for. If the tube only exchanges one gallon of water a day that’s good enough and fast enough too. Just make certain that none of the cat litter can fall in-between the tube and the black craft canvas screen.
The tube is added; because the substrate is tight against the aquarium glass at its sides. This will impede the chemical and biological pathways some. The very slow water movement underneath the plenum will allow for proper ion exchange and will mimic a conventional movement of the water through the substrate releasing any gases. Yes the substrate will produce N2 and it must find a way out via the tube you just added.
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums excellent explanation..i was wondering though..in actual ecosystems and ponds in nature..how does anoxic filtration happen ?
There is only 'substrate' ..how does water movement happen there?
I always find your videos so interesting and tempted to try. 🐟🌿👍😊
Hello Dr. Novac, could you clarify if what you use as Kitty Litter in the U.S., is basically composed of diatomite. I'm from Argentina and I want to make sure I get it right.
can the kitty litter be replaced by zeolite?
According to the CEC, would zeolite work even better than montmorillonite attracting compounds?
I have not personally use Zeolite but in other countries they have used it with great susses.
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums Besides the price versus cat litter, whether one of the keys is the CEC I suppose zeolite could be the queen. Right?
Why would you not disperse the iron throughout the clay? What function does the clay body fill if you are not directing a bit of current through it?
The iron plays two parts in the BCB. part one ) iron helps too accelerate bacteria growth. Bacteria use the iron for their growth in the very beginning and once they are all established then the iron isn’t quite as important.
Two) the laterite has the same crystalline structure as kitty litter or oil dri or any one of those products and therefore it will attract the ions out of the aquarium water the same as the kitty litter.
Even in a normal Aquarium iron is still very important for the building of cells inside your aquarium our filter to establish bacteria.
Dr. Novak would you mind doing a follow up video in 60 days to let us know if it did work as expected. I’m curious how water would leave the bottom and go out the sides if there’s holes in the bottom. It’s uneducated but it would still seem to me because the tube isn’t very thick that it would be very hard for it to get anoxic even if most water is flowing around it there will still be some going through it to stay aerobic. What other brands of canister filters would this work on? Fluval?
In the ADA canister the water is not being pulled through the medium but is forced around the BCB. Water always take the path of least resistance and the BCB has too much resistance for the water to go through it. Diffusion is what will bring the water into the BCB along with ions. One ion is being taken in as another ion is being released back in solution.
Many hobbyists say that: “It is impossible to have oxygen in the baskets because the substrate will compact, and therefore will inhibit any biological process to take place.” However, they forget about the substrate permeability1 qualities, and the large part it plays in the microbial and chemical processes. The permeability of Kitty litter and Laterite allow oxygenated aquarium water with inorganic compounds to pass through the substrate on a current-carrying magnetic field, which then allows the substrate to stay more aerobic. Such substrate has two characteristics that enable fluids to move through it: (1) porosity and (2) permeability. Porosity is the presence of small openings, or pores. Permeability means that some of the pores are connected by spaces through which fluids can move. Nonetheless, actual tests of the baskets have confirmed the existence of oxygen at low levels for bacterium to exists and exists it does. Yet, in all honesty, how it gets there is still somewhat of an unknown to scientist. Yet, I will try to explain the best I can for the hobbyist.
Oxygen penetration is less and less with depth. It decreases for two reasons: microbial metabolism and subsequent biogeochemical processes. Diffusion is a very effective process over short distances; however, it has its limitations.
Yet, the presence of oxygen in the biocenosis clarification baskets suggests that oxygen does diffuse as far as the center of each basket. Concomitantly, biogeochemical processes may produce or retain some oxygen.
Differential pressure existing across gradients. Ion displacement (differential pressure) exists when there is a relationship with carbon dioxide removal. If there is a substrate producing some carbon dioxide, it then becomes a factor in creating anoxic condition. The addition of anion producer such as microbial or aggregate or both needs to produce enough oxygen to engage or attract the carbon dioxide and that will then move the cations, releasing the oxygen and consequently going more aerobic. The point being made here is that it is that oxygen is present in the substrate of each basket and it is clearly not there only because of diffusion alone.
Kevin Novak Ph.D. Will it work with Fluval?
Dr Novak, This may be a silly question but having looked at anoxic filters for a couple of weeks I am unable to find how I can add the bacteria to my filter. I am looking at a water treatment tank, so there is no fish in it, purely a high level of nitrate within the water. is it even possible to kick of the filter in a plain tank/ or can it even be used. Also, yeast is a heterotrophic bacteria, could this be added to the tank to start the colony? TIA
I would go with one of the off-the-shelf products like FritzZyme 7 Nitrifying bacteria.
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums brilliant, thanks!
How often do you need to put the 1/2 oz of liquid iron into the canister ?
Once every 5-10 years if you are not adding iron already to your aquarium.
Hi Dr Novak, what will be the next best thing if i could not find non clumping kitty litter
Thank you.
See the Chubby Guppy's question above about the Saf T Sorb product. I have two tanks now about 2 -1/2 years old with about a 3" bed of Saf T Sorb and am very happy with my choice. It took me a bit to get plants to take, but once I started fertilizing (Aquarium Co-op Easy Green and Seachem Flourish a couple times a week) things really took off. Can't say it's eliminated nitrates as mine tend to run around 40ish, but I think the nitrate craze is a bit overly blown.
Hi Dr Novac. Can i do this with a hang on back filter please? I have been binging on your videos in the last couple of days...i am planning on setting up a couple of tanks in my house...and i am planning on doing it your way
Yes some have done it.
Iv been asking for years now if zeolite cat litter will be fine but still no answer
Hi, this is so interesting, do you think I can convert my Fluval 307 series canister filter to an Anoxic filter as you explained?
thanks in advance.
Yes
Thanks for the videos, Dr Novak. I'd really like to try this for a 30 gallon tank. What are the minimum dimensions necessary for a successful BCB in a canister filter?
The size is going to be dictated by the size of your canister filter and the medium that you’re going to use along with it. Such as sponges, filter medium and carbon, etc., etc. actually, the best thing to do is get the biggest filter you can afford for your size tank.
Dr, Novak. Do you have some bibliography, dissertations, thesis or articles to read more in depth assays and fundamentals? Thanks in advance
anoxicfiltrationsystem.blogspot.com/
Jest go to the link above and you will get a plethora of information on the Anoxic Filtration System.
Three weeks ago I installed a 60 liter aquarium with a slow moving plenum with a Eheim 2211 cannisterfilter like Dr Novak showed in his TH-cam canal about 2 years ago. For substrate I used just poolfilter sand 1-2mm nothing else. Seeing this video I am also going to make a BCB in the Eheim 2211. If everything went well after 6 months with aquarium with fish I am going to make a BCB for my other aquarium. This is a 100 liter Juwel Rio 125. In jan 2020 I set it up with also a slow moving plenum with a JBL Greenline E-902 cannister filter. Substrate with pool sand and Seachem flourite red as describe in Dr Novaks youtubefilms 2 years ago. If all goes well with the Eheim 2211 BCB I am planning to make a BCB for the JBL E-902 cannister just like Luke had done. The JBL e-series are perfect for that because how the water flows through the cannister. As prefilter I will use a Sunsun HW-603 (model without motor).
Hi! Dr. Novak. Does carbon dosing alter the bacteria type and/or performance in the Anoxic filter? Say I wanted to get rid of PO4 while the 6 week colonization period is done. Thank you and thank you for giving us this open source information to help us keep better water parameters and happier fish.
Absolutely not, has no affect on the bacteria.
Fascinating. Question. I use to play with clay in the ditches. There was a smell on the deep clay. Is that the anoxic bacteria you are talking about. And are you basically trying to produce that environment?
Finally tonight (29/12/20), around two years after seeing your first videos on Anoxic filtration and wishing I had a sump... I've converted my "Aquis Aqua One 1250" Canister Filter that was full of "Biohome" into an Anoxic filter after (largely) following your method in this video. My tank is a 450 Litre Juwel Vision which still has the internal filter which I use for mechanical and biological filtration with sponges more biohome and other sintered glass stuff. Ammonia and Nitrite have always been 0 but I've always had Nitrates at around 50 to 80 ppm while doing 20 to 40% water changes every week or two weeks, with 6KG's of Biohome (Sintered glass) media in my various filters.
So, hopefully in 45 days or so I am hoping to see a reduction in Nitrate? I will continue to perform water changes as I would normally and test using my "Salifert" Nitrate test kit that I use for my reef tank which I find to be more accurate than the freshwater API one.
I'll update you in 45 days... Cheers Kev Ph.D. ;O)
Yes, keep me updated on your tank. 👍
Any test results?
dont forget the result dude we wait
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums
It's been a long wait, apologies for that. Regarding my thoughts and results of what I've seen and experienced with my tank over the last (nearly) two years using the Anoxic filter I set up, as above, along with the keeping the existing internal Juwel filter containing sponges and sintered glass media.
In short, In my experience Anoxic filtration works to reduce nitrates. Over the past two years Nitrate levels have been relatively consistent between 35 and under 50 ppm and that is also in conjunction with reducing the water changes I do to every couple of months in the last year.
My fish stock levels have fluctuated on a couple of occasions because I have (or rather, had) an overstocked tank due to Diamond Tetras that won't stop breeding in my tank. So, periodically I sell them to my local Aquarium store. The amount of fish I pull out to sell varies between 60 and 100ish fish. I also have an old Angel and a large Black ghost knife fish that I've had for 7 years amongst many others.
I would say that if I reduced my fish stock even further and/or added another anoxic filter, this may reduce nitrates further but I'm ok with how it works for now. I will still continue with changing water because if you don't, after a while carbonate hardness drops and the waters buffering ability becomes unstable and pH drops. (and it's just nice to freshen things up for the fish).
Anyway, those are my thoughts. Hope it's helpful.
Hi DR. Novak
First I like to say thank for showing your work on this great filter media.
My question is can I modify your design to fit in a HOB filter ? I all ready order the clay kitty litter, and the plastic canvas to make the basket, the only problem I had was the iron , so I bought a 6oz of red powder clay it's use for a face mask. By adding water to it women smear it over the face and it is to draw out imperatives. Seeing that it's safe to apply to one face, I am sure it's safe to use it in my freshwater aquarium.
So I plan on making small
Square BCB basket, in the same style you have made with a smaller gap on the bottom, with a 1/4 " filter foam wrap around the
Bottom to catch debris.
And a gap on the top , to put filter floss on top.
This BCB basket would be small enough so water would enter from bottom and all four side.
When I finished making the basket could I send you a photo of the BCB BASKET.
For your opinion .
And would the red clay powder I purchased work.
Thank you
#FALLRIVERFISHGUY
MASSACHUSETTS
A HOB filter would work but I think it will need some innovated modifications to it or the BCB basket. I just looked on Amazon and put in "Laterite" an it popped up. Laterite Powder Florin Base by: Brightwell Aquatics. It comes in 160-g,325-g,600-g and 1000-g. It cost $12.47 for 325-g.
If I use an Eheim 2213 would it also be a good idea to apply some known filter mods to slow down the flow in order to help the anoxic conditions?
Do Not Slow Down your 2213. You can turn it into an Anoxic filter at that speed. New video coming out with a canister filter that puts out 500-gpr and the big BCB in it will handed 9-lbs of fish.
Hey Dr. Novak,saw the picture of Ironite on you blog page.Is that possible to use that instead of the laterite cause its hard to find nowadays.I can get the Ironite easily from homedepot in my town if it can be used as a replacement of laterite.Please let me know.Thanks...
This is soo cool! Can not wait to try this. I am thinking a heavy pound fishing line or firewire could work as a good alternative to the filament. Can you explain what the iron does please? You deserve video of the year for the aquarium hobby category! Hope this video blows up
Hi Doctor Novak PhD, I have been watching your progressive, highly informative, uploads regarding, first the slow moving anaerobic plenum and latterly the fast flowing Biocentesis Filtration system, I do not know, having lived in England all of my life if you remember the aquarists attempts, back in the 1980's, although I admit that memory fails me here, but, attempts were made to emulate a anaerobic filter by 'dripping' tank water at a pre determined rate through a, normally transparent circular column filled with, I believed to be pool filtration sand. The down side with this system, which, when I was re-bitten by the bug, I believe I can no longer find modern reference to this experiment, was the critical accuracy with which the speed of water introduced to this filter led, either to a natural aerobic failure or, more seriously if too slow then the dreaded 'rotten egg smell' (Hydrogen Sulphide) resulting in the 'usual' action, depending on the length of time that this 'bad' water had been feeding back into the, sometimes very costly display tank, to save fish and plants, although, the system's other failing was the actual, in most cases the 'pitifully small' amount of water returned to the tank when compared to your slow moving plenum system. The big problem I encountered, no doubt, along with a significant number of fellow Aquarists, discovered, as you predicted, impossible to locate.
That is why I welcomed your 'upload' regarding alternatives to Laterite, which FINALY brings me to the assistance, if you are able, by query that I desperately need;
1. Will any "natural" 'Red baked clay product' of sufficient granular size be a suitable alternative to your suggested alternatives ?.
2. Can 'Zeolite', being of suitable size, act as a replacement to the 'kitty litter that you use ?.
I include the relative web address for the only kitty/cat litter I can find.
www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/pets-at-home-non-clumping-clay-cat-litter-20l?cm_mmc=Google-_-CPC-_-%20google_shopping-_-google_shopping&ita=1976&ito=google_shopping&istCompanyId=7255ccad-a1fc-4729-af31-478f79e5071c&istFeedId=385e6b9a-8b03-4076-a8bb-e4737df8549c&istItemId=itxmxqqwa&istBid=tzwt&gclid=Cj0KCQiAqo3-BRDoARIsAE5vnaIYc1aymkKqwGVrJ0ndRZeCs9v8rKnLT9Z-e3PvkU0lZu8omQQvgGMaAjlHEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds#
I would be most grateful for your response
Hi (all the way from Australia) Dr Novak.
I am an avid viewer of your videos and have (hopefully) learned a few things from your very informative material. Thank you.
I have a question with this form of BCB for the canister. Does the flow of water through the canister need to be at a certain minimum flow rate, or is the rate irrelevant?
Following
Hi Dr. Novak, thanks for this helpful video. I am planning to create a BCB basket to be place into a similar canister filter like yours (mine is a Chihiros though). Just wanted to check with you, because I can't find the exact cat litter and oil dri in my country (Indonesia), would you be able to advise whether I can use a 100% zeolite stones in the basket? Would it worked the way it supposed to then? Thanks again!
Hi Dr. Novak, a quick question, will baked akadama will work as substitute to cat litter? I hope you can reply to my question, thank you in advance.
udah nyoba om? pake apa jadinya?
Dr. Novak, Is there an alternative to kitty liter?
As I have discussed in other videos, if you’re making a Plenum, you do not necessarily have to even use kitty litter. You can use alternatives such as oil dry, or Safetsorb.
do you have a video on how much media you need per gallon? And can I make a basket for a hang on back or is the flow too high? I have aqua clears, which I could also retro fit with an air lift system for a trickle filter.
Not really.
Do you recommend the use of zeolite as a filter media? (Some types of zeolite are known as carcinogens). I would like to know your thougts on Zeolite use. Thank you
Zeolite has been used in Thailand for quite a many of years with success. Their access to kitty litter like we have in United States is not very plentiful. The only kind they have over there is a kind it basically clumps and turns into mush.
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums Thank you
Hi Dr. Novak, from what I understand you are installing this filter on the same antique aquarium that you did the slow moving plenum on. Does the slow moving plenum not already work as an anoxic filter? How much anoxic filtration is needed? I am removing all the substrate from a 40 breeder to add a set of filter plates and 1”-2” layer of kitty litter. Will that be enough anoxic filtration for a typical community aquarium? Or will I need some external anoxic filtration as well?
The plenum does work to keep ,your tank from "crashing" . I have used a slow moving plenum in tanks that did not need a teardown for over 10-years. Placing the substrate directly on the bottom, I was lucky to go a year before a teardown or starting all over again.
Be very careful of the Kitty Litter you use . As I said in my video not all Kitty Litter is the same coming out of Walmart. That is why I chose to make a canister BCB, then the cat litter can very somewhat. Maybe only 1/4" of cat litter in-between your substrate would-be the safer bet.
Hi. Set this up on a 350l litre tank using a eheim classic 600 alone side eheim pro4 600. Nitrates went from 40+ to 5ppm in 3 days. Just carrird out test. However could the cat littre affect the ph ? My tap ph is 7.4 and tank is 8.4. Any feedback would be helpful.
Some say the BCB lowers their Ph and other say it rases their Ph. In my aquarium my Ph is 7.5 using a BCB, the same as my tap water. It could be that your water does not have enough buffers in it. Either try a resin like I show in my last video or a Ph down from your local fish store.
I skipped this video because I don't have a canister. Now I wish I watched it because I'm having this crumbling issue. I'm on my second attempt with a plenum but didn't bother changing out the clay (safe t sorb). However I put a fine mesh fabric above the UGF plate. That's been keeping the mush from coming through.
dr.novak what if i baked that kind of kitty litter maybe for 2 hours or more does it make a difference? it will degrade the litter? a
I don't know, sorry about that.
HI Dr. Novak can you use zeolite instead of kitty litter in the basket I cant get baked clay litter in the UK.
I think a lot of hobbiest are using Zeolite cat litter in the UK with very good success.
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums Thanks ill give it ago with Zeolite.
Hey Dr. Novak. EDTA Iron for foliar spray will work to inject in a BCB?
Sorry that I don't know.
Dr. Kevin, Thanks for the informative videos. Do you have any idea if filling a denitrification reactor with kitty litter material with a slow rate flow gets the same result?
The water cannot be force through the kitty litter it must be done as I have instructed.
Hello doctor novak. I am from the philippines and i have been trying to make your BCB or at least pattern one from your design but we dont have the kind of kitty litter that you use. All we have here are the clumping bentonite kitty litter and if lucky, non clumping scented bentonite (which is really rare as well). Is there any other substitute doctor? Can i use crushed red clay pots as an alternative "macro"substrate? Also, is it possible to use the injectable iron dextran used in piglets as the iron source inoculant of your BCB and as replacement for the laterite core (or can the broken red clay pot be considered as laterite already)? And finally, can wood charcoal be used for the BCB or as a substrate substitute (and carbon source)?
I really hope you could help me with these questions doctor. I value your input highly and with much respect. Thank you very much.
Bentonite: Do not use
• Clumping cat litters are made of Bentonite clay, which sticks together when wet. The bentoniteis usually mixed with quartz and diatomaceous earth, which are absorbent.
Other Clays:
• Various types of clays are used for non-clumping cat litters. Zeolite, diatomaceous earth and sepiolite are common.
• (Only use clay -Attapulgite-that has been mined from the earth, clean, baked, and pulverized such as Kitty litter.)
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums Dear Doctor, I am from Singapore, and i guess by know you realise how hard is it to get this sort of kitty litter elsewhere outside USA. I was wondering if you can quicky see if this can work www.amazon.sg/Premium-Litter-Natural-Performance-Maximum/dp/B01M8LRNHG/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=diatomaceous+kitty+litter&qid=1612108190&sr=8-1
Dr Novak, will leca balls work the same way? Leca balls are hard and made of clay.
Bentonite: Do not use
• Clumping cat litters are made of Bentonite clay, which sticks together when wet. The bentoniteis usually mixed with quartz and diatomaceous earth, which are absorbent.
Other Clays:
• Various types of clays are used for non-clumping cat litters. Zeolite, diatomaceous earth and sepiolite are common.
• (Only use clay -Attapulgite-that has been mined from the earth, clean, baked, and pulverized such as Kitty litter.)
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums can i use only laterite without the cat litter?
Fantastic
...Dr Novak
...if I use laterite soil and bake it... would it have the same effect as the kitty litter?
...if use kitty litter that is not clay...does it need to inject the iron ions?
You can use pure laterite soil that would be just fine. Laterite is nothing but clay so that should work.
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums Can I just use Seachem Red Fourite and no kitty litter?
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums Thanks for the reply
How to size the anoxic filter for 2000 liters tank?
Can we use stones instead? Maybe finer grade lava rock?
No it will not work the same. The kitty litter or oil dry has a crystalline structure to it that attracts the ions out of the aquarium water unlike normal gravel or lava rock. Sorry...
I made my Anoxic basket bottom flat because the Eheim 2215 has a raise plastic platform in the bottom of canister already. Also I will only use filter pad on top of basket for easier maintenance and not having to remove the Anoxic basket from the canister.
Hi Dr Novak,
I was introduced to your Anoxic filtration method through a youtuber @ guppies stories.
For my stream tank (you can check out my channel too), I am using 2 fluval fx6 canister filter and 2 big size pre-filter canister filter.
In my pre-filter, i have loaded them with tons of pumice actually without the basket tho.
I got few questions to ask and hope you could address it.
1. Would this work if I'm using small size pumice instead of kitty liter?
2. Is it compulsary to inject the iron liquid?
2. Is it okay for the water output from the anoxic filter flow into the normal convention canister filter or it has to be a separate flow all together?
3. Can both conventional filter and anoxic filter co-exist together?
4. Could I just convert all my entire conventional filter into an anoxic filter for my 10 footer stream tank that houses almost 100 small sized fishes.
Hi, greetings from Mexico, thank you for your videos and for sharing your knowledge, i have a 115 gallons tank of goldfish, i would like to try anoxic filtration, and i have some questions if you dont mind. 1. Whats best in your opinion, flourite red or zeolite? the flourite red its clay with iron rigth? 2. If i install the BCB's baskets in a sump i don't need matrix anymore?
Flotilla red but see if you could get oli-Dri first.
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums thank you for your help, do you have a link because i dont know what oli-Dri is.
And do i have to conserve the matrix?
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums sorry to bother you again, can i try with the brand "Skoon" its a Diatomaceous earth, non-clumping and it works with ion exchange, it also says that is very porous and works with ions exchange. what do you think? www.amazon.com/Skoon-All-Natural-Litter-Pooper-Skooper/dp/B07Y426QS4
@@tavo2428 sorry I know nothing about that product to give an opinion on it.
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums i finally get the oil-dri, how much do i have to use for my 115?
Great video, one question: I've used this exact cat litter. Can I use zeolite as a substitute?
Yes you can!
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums that's awesome to hear. As the only "Clay" kitty litter I can find locally is Zeolite clay kitty litter.
Does the anoxic filter smell after a while because its low oxygen? Will regular gravel work I have a hard time finding unscented kitty litter.
No, Anoxic filter will never smell. Sorry, gravel will not work as good as oil dri and/or cat litter.
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums thank you
It's so hard to get baked clay kitty litter in Singapore. Hopefully there's a substitute to it. For iron there's a Nilocg which contains ferrous gluconate ,dtpa and edta iron in liquid form.
I have two filters on a 5ft aquarium an fx6 and a eheim classic. Could I turn the eheim into an anoxic filter keeping the fx6 as it is or would this not work.
Yes you can , Eheim classics will work perfectly the same way as the ADA filter does. Just make it the same way I show it and you should have no problems and you’ll be seeing some fantastic results in just a few days.
So how long will the flourish iron last, would you redose the flourish iron when servicing the filter pads? I was expecting a core of laterite or the Seachem Flourite Red as you had used in your previous baskets.
Basically it’s there just to start up the filter because the bacteria need the iron. Once the bacteria is establish it really doesn’t have to be re-inoculate except once every maybe 5 to 10 years.
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums Now I understand, Thank you.
Hi Dr Novak. Do you ever need to replenish the iron source added to the clay or is it just introduced initially to 'jump start' the bacteria reproduction?
yes every 5-10 years.
The plastic mesh you are using is called " Plastic Needlepoint Canvas ".
I have an Eheim ECCO pro 300 which will be surplus sometime next year . Do you think that it would be worthwhile converting it into an Anoxic Filter by lining the provided baskets with mesh and filling with kitty litter ? I would be using it on a tank of either 100 or 170 Litres . I have some Laterite although I am not sure that I can get old style Kitty Litter here (Ireland) anymore .
Thanks, I just thought it was for some craft use I didn’t know the name of it. The only thing about the ecco filters is the water Has to go through the medium baskets because of the way the water enters and exits the filter. That’s why I chose to Eheim classics are the ADA filter they’re made the old fashion way. Water comes in from the bottom and goes out the top..
theboesmani This is a link to youtube canal from Luke who convert an Eheim professional 3 filter to a anoxic BCB filter:
th-cam.com/video/4uefD7acEiI/w-d-xo.html
I live in the Netherlands in in Europe we have a german aquarium products company JBL who have cannister filters who also can be converted the Lukeway to a BCB filter. I have one and I am thinking to convert him next year.
@@paulusdeboskabouter9753 Thanks, very interesting video .
is this for fresh water or salt water aquarium?
Yes
I am sorry if I missed this in the comments, but is this adaptable to a sump filter setup? And if so, how? Thank you.
yes it is good for a sump. I show the BCB in my sump in a video I did.
can I use hydroponic media instead of the kittyliter
Sorry, I don't know if that will work. Please try your local Hardware store for Oil-Dri or it may be at a local tractor supply store, too.
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums hmmm down here in Bahrain .. we dont have that stuff available ... will try my luck and keep you posted .... THNX .
hmmm i just got my first cannister filter , would converting a tier of the media basket into a mini version of this be worth it ?? ive never heard anything abut anoxic filter, until i watched this SO PLEASE excuse my ignorance
You can try it, I know two years ago someone did just that and made a video of it on TH-cam.
now i dont need to change water. thx you
Excellent .Congratulations. Very explanatory video. One point I would like to ask: is the addition of iron solution necessary? Isn't there a possiblity of overdosing the iron? Isn't it harmfulfor the fish? Thank you.
If you’re already adding iron to your aquarium because of plants then the iron is not absolutely necessary. It will migrate inside the BCB on its own. Or lets say you have iron in your tap water already then there’s no reason to add more to the BCB. Small amounts of iron or not harmful to your fish but it could cause problems with your plants. This is done by overdosing.
Do you need to reduce the flow rate of water through the canister?
NO, the faster the better it works.
Hi, Dr. Novak can I use lava rock instead of kitty litter? Lava rock here is much cheaper than kitty litter. I wonder if it has the same effect.
sorry no. it is not the same use Oil Dri, Safe T Sorb or Kitty litter only.
Thanks for the response Dr. Novak. I'm planning to use hydroton which is similar to the kitty litter in your area. I can't find the same kitty litter here in the Philippines, mostly it is made of bentonite.
I've been wondering if you would make more videos.
For zeolite I find horticultural zeolite works great without breaking down the way the special kitty does.
I know Harvy is in Thailand use Zell light which almost looks like kitty litter more so than what we use here in United States is kitty litter and also adding iron. I have it on my blog and it does work.
Dr. Novak have you ever tried Safe T Sorb from tractor supply? It is made from montmorillonite clay. $6 for 40 lbs I’ve had great success.
Yes, it as good as Kitty Litter, i’ve repeatedly told people they can also use oil-Dry which is exactly like what you’re talking about. Thanks for the good info I hope others read this comment.
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums hi sir. Can i use akadama clay, pebbles clay or even pumice to replace the cat litter?
Hi kevin I'm in the UK and I'm really struggling to find a cat litter that doesn't turn to mush when wet is there anything you can suggest.
Can you use the Fluval Substrate like I am? Or maybe ADA substrate? Then just use them instead of the cat litter.
Dr Novak would Seachem Flourish Iron or Flourite RED be a suitable substitute for what you used? Thank you for your videos. I'm trying to replicate your experiment using an Eheim classic canister using Oil-Dry. The Walmart kitty litter in Canada had very small (sand like) consistency and wouldn't work for me. Hopefully this works. Thanks again.
Hi Chris - have done this yet? Any experience to share?
@@vikkirountoit497 I’ve had my canister set up fr about 2 months now. I have Norma seen a reduction in nitrates yet. I’m experimenting with three tanks using different water conditioners (my city uses chloramine so most conditioners Glauber added binding agents for ammonia that has an effect on anoxic bacteria). Waiting to see if this works.
@@chriscaragiannis6783 Interesting - I use Seachem Prime to prep my aquarium water. I am hoping that I can continue to use it and that it will not cause a problem for the anoxic aspect of the plenum I'm setting up for 10g or for the BCB I plant to set up for the 75g. Thanks for your update!
@@vikkirountoit497 I’m trying three different types of conditioners to see if it makes a difference. So far no difference.
Sorry for so many questions, but i am just raring to try these methods with what i have available with me..
I have a cannister with compartment trays in it.
Can i use a mesh bag with appropiately dense media ( keeping a gap of half an inch from the sides) in each of those compartments..will that work too? ( Of course, keeping a fine sponge above and below all these for the mechanical filtration part)
Yes as long as the water is not forced through the bag itself then it will do.
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums i was doing some online reading up.. from what i understand as of now, any material which is porous, permeable, clay derivative and doesnt disintegrate should work.. i got the idea that they should have a good CEC..that will draw the ammonia in.. so keeping all those in view, can vermiculite be an alternative choice? Also, iron, can it be supplied as ferrous sulphate instead of laterite?
@@Kingshukpalchoudhury do not use vermiculite your tank will become a mess of cyanobacteria. Stick only to what I have tested or your outcome may not be favorable. This is how people fail by using the Anoxic system by trying to change it and then it fails on them.
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums thanks.. could you be so kind as to tell the reason/principle due to which vermiculite will fail?
Since you suggested zeolite works..
Are there any other material you know of that works?
Thanks again for the quick responses..
Hi Dr. Novak. Can we use kitty litter made of any type of clay or does it have to be of a specific kind/type?
None clumping clay like that of Oil-Dri or Safe-T-Sorb and cat litter.
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums Used Oil-Dri. Just 3 rinses and it was clean with no clumps.
Did anyone try Seachem Flourite Black Clay Gravel instead of kitty litter?
I think that is worth a try.
Is this what you're speaking of? Looks interesting as it is made of clay AND has a high iron content. What are your thoughts Dr. Novak, can we kill 2 birds with one stone?e-lss.jp/seachem/flourite-black.php
Thanks, I'm going to give it a try ...
@@toddslingerland6110 it looks like it may work I just wonder what the size of the substrate is or the medium is? 1-2mm? I don’t know.
Thank you very much for sharing this Dr. Novak. How much laterite would you place in the filter? I recently found some on eBay if you're looking for a supply.
let me know so I can give that info to other pls. Thanks.
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums I just checked the eBay seller I bought it from and its out of stock. I did find this place that have stock. aquascaping.in/index.php/api-first-layer-pure-laterite-567-gm.html
Not sure if they ship internationally though.
I can get Duplarit which is Duplas brand of laterite from my local aquarium store if you want some i can ship i to you? It's powdered form though. The lot i bought recently was much more granular chunks. Sourced from One Research & Development. I am in Australia where it comes from apparently.
Special kitty not available in India though brand with Bentonite clay is available. Can it be used?
Dr Novak In the Netherlands we have catlitter made from Atapulgiet/Palygorskiet. Can I use that? Thanks in advance.
@@TubingTommy Thanks for the info. Found by Petsplace catty litter Happy Home Budget made of Atapulgite. Buy one and try it. So we can compare our findings.
Three weeks ago I installed a 60 liter aquarium with a slow moving plenum with a Eheim 2211 cannisterfilter like Dr Novak showed in his TH-cam canal about 2 years ago. For substrate I used just poolfilter sand 1-2mm nothing else. Seeing this video I am also going to make a BCB in the Eheim 2211. If everything went well after 6 months with aquarium with fish I am going to make a BCB for my other aquarium. This is a 100 liter Juwel Rio 125. In jan 2020 I set it up with also a slow moving plenum with a JBL Greenline E-902 cannister filter. Substrate with pool sand and Seachem flourite red as describe in Dr Novaks youtubefilms 2 years ago. If all goes well with the Eheim 2211 BCB I am planning to make a BCB for the JBL E-902 cannister just like Luke had done. The JBL e-series are perfect for that because how the water flows through the cannister. As prefilter I will use a Sunsun HW-603 (model without motor).
@@TubingTommy Bought yesterday that Petsplace litter and tried it this morning but it is not good. It seems worse than that of Linda. Small pieces and a lot of dust. When wet it became like pasta used for filling holes in walls. Now looking for oil dry used in garages and Zeolite.
@@TubingTommy Dr. Novak today I made a similar BCB like you for my cannister filter Eheim 2211. The BCB diam is 7 cm and height 10,5 cm. I filled it with this Hobby 20055 zeoliet, 1000 g, 5-8 mm: Amazon.nl and a 1 cm “tube” in the center with Seachem flourite red just like Luke did. The cannister filter has a diam of 9 cm. I am using it for my 50 liter planted aquarium I just set up with a slow moving plenum attached to the cannister like you have shown.
If all goes well I will make an BCB for my JBL e902 cannister filter for my one year old 125 liter show aquarium who has already a slow moving plenum. I will use this zeolith ZeoPond: zeoliet voor vijver en aquarium - Zeolite Products (zeolite-products.com) because I couldn’t find good catlitter or oil-dry.
Please keep updating this with what works and what does not in your set ups. Looking forward to hearing more.
hello dr novak
im planning to make a anoxic filter but I'm unable to find non clumping kitty litter in my area and walmart also does not deliver it here . so can you suggest any other media for example pumice , lava rock , chips,or something else which is easily available and hence I will be able to make the filter for me
The kitty litter I use is non-baked kitty litter from Walmart. Someone has suggested that if you put it in the oven for three hours at a 400 to 500° oven it will harden the kitty litter and bake it.
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums thanks Dr Novak for the reply
I will try this and tell you soon about the conclusion
This method will work for me as I am getting clumpable kitty litter so I hope that it works
Thank you for your time and effort you have really given a lit to fish keeping hobby
So when we have an anoxic filter like that,do we also need to have a filter for aerobic bacteri that eats up the ammonia and nitrite in the tank?
No you don't have to have an aerobic filter. The Anoxic filter will take care of everything biologically for you. Just have a goof prefilter and that is it. This will be great for bare bottom tanks too.
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums Thats awesome.Now I gonna turn all of my diy box filters into anoxic filters.It will be a lot of work since I have lots of tanks but it will be worth it.Thank you so much Dr. Novak!
Once again Doctor, great video. You have me convinced to give this a try. I mentioned in another post that I am using Fluval canisters. You think this could be used in one of them like a Fluval 307 or 406? I'm guessing I'd just have to leave out all the baskets and sponge racks and make that media basket you described. I currently run a FX4 and the 307. My plan would be to run the FX4 unchanged and put the kitty litter in the 307. In other words run both the standard canister along side one that the anoxic bacteria. Love to hear your thoughts
It sounds good but I'm not that up to date on just how the new Fluval's get the intake and exit output of water into the canister. The water has to circulate around the BCB in order for it to work. That is why I personally chose the Eheim classic or ADA canister filters because water must come in from the bottom then go up to the outlet at the top.
@@anoxicfiltrationplenums The Fluvlas have the intake and output at the top. I'm guessing it may not work
Kevin, how often do you clean your canister filter?
About once every six months.